Fence-machine



(Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1.

- l s. J. WHITE.

FENCE. MACHINE. y

No. 393,73. y Patented Nov. 27, 18,88. y

nm @fi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN JAY W'HITE, OF MIIJLSTADT, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,732, dated November 27, 1888.

' Application filed August 18, 188B. Serial No. 283,100. (Model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN JAY WHITE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Millstadt, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fence-machines; and it consistsin certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing my improved machine in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail i plan view of the central casting. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the inner sleeve of one of the wire-twisters. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of one of the twisters. l

Referring tothe drawings by letter, A designates the base-plate, having an opening, B, formed transversely through it, and .having a socket, C, on its upper side. A standard, D, has its lower end secured in this socket and rises upward therefrom to the height desired for the fence. A carrying-roller, E, is journaled on an axle secured to the socket C, and the said roller projects through the opening B below the base-plate, and forms a traveling support for the machine. Near the opposite ends of the standard, and at the center of the same, I secure the castings F F and G. These castings each have a tubular portion, H, through which the standard passes and in which are mounted set-screws I, by which the castings are secured rigidly to the standard. The castings project from the standard toward the line of the fence and have mounted in their outer ends the wire-twisters J, which are provided on their outer surfaces with gearteeth L, which mesh with a vertical rack-bar M, thesaid rackdoar being passed through and guided in central vertical openings in the castings.

At the central portion of the rack-bar it is provided with a second series of rack-teeth,N, which mesh with a pinion, O, on a transverse shaft, l?, mounted in bearings Q, formed integral with the central casting, G, and projecting from the upper edge of the same. rlhe outer end of the shaft l? is provided with a crank-arm, It, by means ol` which the said shaft is rotated and the rack-bar reciprocated.

The wire-twisters consist of an outer sleeve, S, journaled in the outer end of the casting and provided with the gear-teeth, as before stated, and having on its inner surface the longitudinal diametricallyvopposite grooves T. An inner sleeve or barrel, U, is inserted through the sleeve S, and is provided at one end with the locking-springs V, which engage the end of the sleeve S, and thereby secure the sleeve U p within the same. The said sleeve U is provided in its outer surface with longitudinal diametrically-opposite grooves W, which are adapted to register with the inner surface of the sleeve S, and thereby form passages which receive the fence-wires.

'In operation the machine is placed on the ground adjacent to the line of the proposed fence, the end fence-post is set in the ground at the proper point, and the fence-wire secured thereto, after having been passed through the twisters, as clearly shown in Fig. l. A picket is then passed down between the wires and the shaft l) rotated so as to reciprocate the rackbar, and thereby rotate the wire-twisters, consequently twisting the wires around the pickets. A second picket is then inserted between the wires and the rack-bar reciprocated in the reverse direction, so as to rotate the wiretwisters in a direction contrary to that formerly given them, thereby twisting the wire around the second picket. This operation is repeated until the desired length of fence has been built, as will be readily understood.

It will be observed'that my device is extremely simple and entirely free of all complicated arrangement of parts and intricate construction. As the fence is built, the machine is moved easily along the ground by means of the roller E, and it can be operated very rapidly and easily by any person, however unskilled. The inner sleeve of the wire-twister can be easily removed to permit the insertion of the wires through the outer sleeve, and can then be quickly replaced in position to retain the wires in place and guide them in parallel lines to the pickets. The springs on the inner sleeve of the twister effectually prevent the accidental disengagement of the sleeves.

In passing the wire through the twisters the inner sleeves are removed, and the wires are then inserted through the outer sleeves and caused to engage the longitudinal grooves of IOO the same. The inner sleeves are then inserted in place, the llange a, at one end thereof, contacting with the end of the outer sleeve to limit the movement of the inner sleeve, while the springs V automatically engage the opposite end of the outer sleeve, so that the said inner sleeve will be firmly locked in place by reason of said springs and llange a engaging and binding against the opposite ends of the outer sleeve. The said flange and springs consequently efi'eetually prevent slipping of the inner tube.

It will furthermore he noticed that the hase projects beyond the roller on all sides, so that should the machine lean to one side the edge or end ofthe base will strike against the ground, and thereby prevent the machine tipping so quickly as to prevent its being stopped from falling to the ground.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. A fencemachine comprising a base having an opening and a socket on its upper side, a standard having its lower end secured in l said socket, wire-twisting devices carried by i the standard, and a roller projecting through the opening in the base and having its axle secured to the socket, as set forth.

2. The fencelmachine comprising the base, the standard erected thereon, the castings secured to the standard, the central casting having the integral bearings Q Q on its upper side, and each of said castings havinga tubular portion through which the standard passes, the raclebar mounted in said castings, the wire-twisters mounted in the castings and engaging the rack-har, the crank-shaft mounted in the bearings Q Q, and the pinion on said shaft engaging the rack-bar at right angles to the wire-twisters, as specified.

3. The improved wire twisters herein described and shown, each consisting of an outer sleeve having diametrically-opposite grooves in its inner surface, an inner sleeve having diametricallyopposite grooves on its outer surface, and springs secured to said inner sleeve and engaging the cad of the outer sleeve, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

D. C. SCI'IMYAHLENnnRoER, Gno. AL'rsouUH. 

